Despite relentless hype from mainstream media about a looming “Civil War” in the GOP, Republicans should feel no embarrassment about the way their leaders ended the government shutdown and debt ceiling crisis. John Boehner placed the good of the country and the welfare of its citizens above pursuit of ideological abstractions; even House members aligned with the Tea Party expressed support for his steady leadership.

President Obama, on the other hand, proved all too willing to damage the struggling economy and to cause discomfort to millions rather than offer the slightest willingness to compromise on the disastrous roll-out of Obamacare. When voters look back on the federal shutdown they should remember which party was eager to work out positive, bi-partisan changes to fix a broken process and which party refused to bend at all, even to avert disaster.